FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
February 28, 2022
Washington, DC

CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle thanked credit unions for serving as “financial first responders” amid the pandemic during his welcome address at the CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC).

“You have members who run to you in moments of financial challenge, hardship, maybe terror, frustration, certainly circumstances that are beyond their control, and they ask for help. And you run toward them,” Nussle said. “The mission of credit unions is to run toward than danger, to help them deal with that predicament.”

Nussle said credit unions must continue to advocate for themselves, even in these hyper partisan times that lead many to stay away from “being political” as one attendee told him.

“I don’t want you to be political. Don’t be political. That’s not why you’re here, to talk politics,” he said. “I want you to talk credit unions. If you’re going to be partisan, be partisan for credit unions. That’s the most important thing we can do.”

He recalled during time in Congress he preferred meetings where people told him about problems they were solving, stories to back it up, and how they were making progress on the problem. That’s the formula that can make a difference, he said.

“Financial Well-Being for All fits into this perfectly. It’s what are members are talking about, it’s what Congress is talking about, it’s what so many state legislatures are talking about, is the challenges people are having across the country,” Nussle added.

He added that Financial Well-Being for All appeals to all political persuasions, as those on the right support self-reliance and support, while those on the left back financial access and inclusion.

“At this time in our country we’re thirsty for things that bring us together, and that are bipartisan and don’t have to be separated into red and blue,” Nussle said. “That’s what credit unions do.”

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About CUNA:           
Credit Union National Association (CUNA) is the only national association that advocates on behalf of all of America’s credit unions, which are owned by 120 million consumer members. CUNA, along with its network of affiliated state credit union leagues, delivers unwavering advocacy, continuous professional growth and operational confidence to protect the best interests of all credit unions. For more information about CUNA, visit cuna.org. To find your nearest credit union, visit YourMoneyFurther.com.

CONTACT:
Lauren Williams
CUNA Communications
202-672-